Monday, October 31, 2011

(above) Magness Arena will host the first presidential debate next year

The Commission on Presidential Debates selected the University of Denver as the host site for the first 2012 Presidential debate. The debate will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 in Magness Arena.

Chancellor Coombe hosted a press conference about the announcement this afternoon. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock also spoke at the Press conference.

The national and international spotlight will be on the University of Denver during this historic event. It will be the first Presidential Debate ever held in Colorado.

After the debate at DU there will be one on Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and the final debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., on Oct. 22 — about two weeks before Election Day.

A DU Alum from Atlanta emailed LetsGoDU this photo on "Pumpkin Boone" in 2008. The Boone controversy was heating up on campus eventually resulting in Chancellor Coombe decision that "Boone would not become the official mascot of the University of Denver."

So we published an article and asked for donations. 25 alums, students and fans sent in checks totaling $4,800. The Boone mascot was designed, built and purchased from a company in Toronto in time for the 2009 Frozen Four in Washington DC.

As as Boonemania sweeps across the nation, know that a simple carved Halloween pumpkin led to the building of the Boone mascot costume.

Beau Bennett always has remained steadfast in his assertion that point totals matter little to him. Yet after compiling boggling numbers prior to his arrival at the University of Denver, even Bennett admits his struggles at the outset of last season were a source of frustration as he slowly grew acclimated to the pace and physicality of the college game [read entire article].

Freshman Josiah Didier is following a long list of Colorado-raised hockey players to develop into NCAA Division I skaters with NHL potential. The young University of Denver defenseman, however, is unique when it comes to his success on skates [read entire article].

Jared Fiegl (6'0 178 lbs.-Parker, Colorado) has been projected for quite some time to become a top nine forward on the U.S. National Development Team. This week it became official as Fiegel made a commitment to play in Ann Arbor for the National Team Development Program.

Fiegl played last year for the Colorado Rampage U16AAA team and for Coach Ed Saxer playing in 59 games and scoring 7 goals and 4 assists. Because of his size and ability he was able up an age group that was all 1994 and 1995 birth years and skipped his second year of U14 hockey.

It's been a busy off season for Fiegl, who committed to University of Denver, the college hockey team he grew up watching. Fiegl was being pursued by many college hockey powers before making his choice to play for DU. Fiegl will arrive on campus in 2014 and will play the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 season in Ann Arbor Michigan for the NTDP.

Fiegl is projected to become a high NHL pick in 2014. Director Andrew Sherman said “the Rampage are fortunate to have someone of Fiegl's abilities and character in our program.”

Thursday, October 27, 2011

The good news is that the executive MBA program at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business again has been named one of the world’s top 100 Executive MBA programs in an annual ranking posted Monday by the Financial Times. DU’s Daniels is the only Colorado program on the list. It ranked No. 99.

The bad news is that Daniels ranked No. 95 last year. It was No. 85 in 2009 and No. 90 in 2008.

Why the drop off? One reason has been a decline in Alumni participation in annual donations. It goes beyond the dollars—it impacts the rankings, the reputation and the value of a Daniels degree. Last year, only 3% of the 30,000 alumni contributed to the Daniels Tomorrow annual fund.

Graduates of the DU program earn an average $151,236 a year three years after completing it, up 44 percent from before taking the program, based on data for 2008 graduates, the Financial Times said on its website.

So consider a donation today, and help the Business School regain an upward trajectory in the rankings.

DU Alum Joe Colborne is off to a great start this season in the AHL. He already has 12 points in the first six games for the Toronto Marlies. It may take an injury to an existing player on the Maple Leafs roster for Colborne to get called up to the NHL this season, but he looks like he's going to be ready.

"This was a very difficult deal," Head Coach/GM Bliss Littler said. "Cedar Rapids was looking for a defensive-minded defenseman and we were looking for someone who could provide more scoring. We're incredibly excited to bring Nolan into the mix here in Omaha and wish Nathan nothing but continued success."

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Zajac has tallied 42 points (three goals, 39 assists) in 101 career games in the USHL. The 5-10, 181 pound blueliner has recorded one assist in seven games this season to go along with six penalty minutes and a +5 +/- rating. Committed to the University of Denver, Zajac finished seventh among all RoughRiders in scoring last season with 30 points (three goals, 27 assists) and was the second highest returning scorer in Cedar Rapids this season. During this USHL rookie campaign back in 2009-2010, Zajac tallied 11 points (11 assists) in 49 games.

Zajac was originally selected 12th overall (Round 1) by Cedar Rapids in the 2009 USHL Entry Draft. Before entering the USHL, Zajac spent the 2008-2009 season with the Winnipeg Thrashers of the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League.

Nolan's father Tom played at DU from 1973-76 under Murray Armstrong. Nolan older brother plays for the New Jersey Devils.

What Beau Bennett accomplished in less than five periods last weekend is why the University of Denver sophomore probably will be playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins​ at this time next year. Bennett, the Penguins' first-round draft pick in 2010, had five assists combined in the Pioneers' 4-2 and 10-2 victories over Minnesota State [read entire article].

Q: Why does Coach Gwozdecky continue to pair Shawn Ostrow with forwards who can't get him the puck in a position to score?

Don Cherry [Kingston, Ontario]

DG: Coach Gwozdecky is basically in a no-win situation here. Strowbeaut is so talented - he even intimidates his linemates. They fear his quick temper and start gripping their sticks. Before long they're missing his wide open looks and backdoor moves to the goal.

Q: Why doesn't the DU coaching staff emphasize a more physical brand of hockey that would compliment Shawn Ostrow's abilty to play smash-mouth hockey?

Reggie Dunlop [Charlestown, PA]

DG: WCHA refereeing, being what it is these days, isn't suited to handle "Strowboat Hockey." You saw the calls last weekend against Mankato. Ostrow would be in the penalty box half the game.

In honor of Shawn Ostrow's newfound notoriety online, his fantastic four-point performance against Minnesota State on Saturday and in order to drive up readership, LetsGoDU is in the process of being rebranded. The Shawn Ostrow Blog will cover all things Shawn Ostrow.

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on March 17, 1990, Shawn Ostrow is the son of Frank and Donna Ostrow, and the younger brother of Kyle. He graduated in 2008 from Central Memorial High School in Calgary, Alberta.

Currently he is a Junior at the University of Denver, pursuing a Major in Finance.

Growing up in Canada, hockey was his life, opening many doors. He moved away from home at the age of seventeen to play hockey in Camrose alongside future DU teammates Joe Colborne and Jon Cook. He played two years of Junior A hockey, before accepting a hockey scholarship at DU.